A Family In Trouble
In a small cottage by the edge of a vast forest, there lived a poor woodcutter with his wife and two children. The boy was named Hansel, and the girl, Gretel. Times were tough, and the family often had very little to eat. One night, as the woodcutter lay in bed, unable to sleep from worry, he sighed and said to his wife, “What are we going to do? We barely have enough food for ourselves, let alone our children.”
His wife, thinking hard, replied, “Tomorrow, we’ll take the children deep into the forest. We’ll light a fire for them, give them each a small piece of bread, and tell them to wait while we work. But we won’t come back for them. They’ll get lost, and we’ll no longer have to worry about feeding them.”
The woodcutter was horrified. “No, I can’t do that! How can we leave our children all alone in the forest? Wild animals might attack them!”
His wife, growing impatient, snapped, “If we don’t, we’ll all starve! You might as well start building our coffins now. We have no choice.” She kept pressuring him until, finally, with a heavy heart, he agreed.
“I feel so sorry for them,” he whispered sadly.
Now, Hansel and Gretel had been lying awake, unable to sleep because of their hunger. They overheard everything. Gretel began to cry softly. “What will we do now?” she whispered to Hansel.
“Don’t worry, Gretel,” Hansel whispered back. “I’ll think of something.”
Once their parents had fallen asleep, Hansel quietly got out of bed, put on his coat, and slipped outside. The moon was shining brightly, and the white pebbles near the house glimmered like little silver coins. Hansel picked up as many as he could fit into his pockets, then crept back inside.
“Don’t worry, little sister,” he said as he tucked himself back into bed. “We’ll be okay. Go to sleep now.” And with that, they both drifted off, hoping for a better tomorrow.
Hansel’s Plan
At dawn, before the sun had even risen, the children’s mother woke Hansel and Gretel with a sharp voice. “Get up, you lazybones! We’re heading into the forest to collect wood.” She handed them each a small piece of bread and added, “This is your food for the day. Don’t eat it all at once, because you won’t get anything else.” Gretel tucked her bread safely under her apron, while Hansel secretly held onto the stones he had gathered the night before. Together, the family set off toward the forest.
As they walked, Hansel kept stopping and glancing back at their house. He did this several times, which caught his father’s attention.
“Hansel, why are you falling behind and looking back so much? Keep up with us, and mind your steps,” his father said, puzzled.
“Oh, I’m just looking at my little white cat,” Hansel replied. “She’s sitting on the roof, trying to say goodbye to me.”
His mother scoffed. “Foolish boy, that’s not your cat! It’s just the sun reflecting on the chimney.”
But Hansel wasn’t really looking at a cat. Each time he turned around, he dropped a small white pebble from his pocket onto the path behind him.
After a while, they reached the middle of the forest. Their father said, “Now, children, gather some wood, and I’ll light a fire to keep you warm.” Hansel and Gretel quickly collected branches and piled them into a small hill. Soon, the fire was crackling and warm flames flickered high into the air.
“Now sit here by the fire and rest,” their mother said. “Your father and I are going deeper into the forest to chop more wood. We’ll come back to get you when we’re done.”
Hansel and Gretel sat by the fire, feeling its warmth chase away the chilly forest air. When noon arrived, they each nibbled on their small piece of bread. They could hear the steady sound of a woodcutter’s axe, so they believed their father was still nearby. But it wasn’t really his axe at all. Their father had tied a branch to a tree, and the wind was knocking it back and forth, making it sound like someone was chopping wood.
Hours passed, and the children grew tired. Slowly, their eyes drooped, and soon they fell fast asleep by the fire. By the time they woke, the sky was pitch black, and the forest seemed even more mysterious and frightening in the dark. Gretel began to cry softly. “How will we ever find our way out of the forest now?”
But Hansel squeezed her hand and said, “Don’t worry, Gretel. Just wait until the moon comes up. Then we’ll find our way home.”
Sure enough, when the full moon rose and lit up the forest, the white pebbles Hansel had dropped glimmered like silver coins on the path. Hand in hand, the two children followed the glowing trail. They walked all through the night, and by the time morning came, they had made their way back to their father’s house.
When they knocked on the door, their mother opened it and exclaimed, “You silly children! Why did you stay in the forest so long? We thought you were never coming back!” But their father rushed to them, overjoyed. His heart had been heavy with guilt, and he was relieved to see them safe and sound.
Lost Again
Not long after, hard times came again, and food grew even scarcer. Late one night, Hansel and Gretel overheard their mother talking to their father. “We’re down to our last piece of bread,” she whispered urgently. “After that, there’s nothing left. We have to take the children deeper into the forest this time, so they can’t find their way back. It’s the only way we’ll survive!”
Their father’s heart sank. “It would be better to share the last bite with our children,” he thought. But his wife refused to listen, scolding him until he reluctantly agreed. Just like before, she pushed him to do what he knew wasn’t right.
Hansel and Gretel, still wide awake from hunger, heard every word. Hansel quietly reassured his sister. “Don’t worry, Gretel,” he whispered. “I’ll find a way to help us again.” He slipped out of bed, planning to gather more pebbles, but this time, their mother had locked the door. Hansel couldn’t get outside.
Still, he comforted Gretel. “It’s going to be okay. Get some sleep. We’ll figure it out. God will help us.”
The next morning, their mother woke them early. She handed them an even smaller piece of bread than before, barely enough to nibble on. As they walked into the forest, Hansel began crumbling his bread into tiny pieces and secretly dropped them along the path.
“Hansel, why are you stopping and looking back again?” his father asked.
“I’m just looking at my little pigeon,” Hansel replied. “She’s sitting on the roof, saying goodbye.”
“Nonsense!” his mother snapped. “That’s not your pigeon, it’s just the sunlight on the chimney.” But Hansel kept tossing crumbs behind them, hoping they would guide them back home.
They walked much deeper into the forest this time, to a place neither Hansel nor Gretel had ever seen. Once again, a fire was built, and their mother told them, “Stay here by the fire and rest. We’ll be back when we finish chopping wood.”
When noon came, Gretel shared her bread with Hansel, since he had scattered all of his. Exhausted, the children fell asleep. By the time they woke up, the sky was dark, and their parents had not returned.
Hansel tried to reassure Gretel again. “Let’s wait for the moon to rise. Then we can follow the trail of breadcrumbs back home.”
But when the moon lit up the forest, they couldn’t find a single crumb. The birds had eaten every last one.
“It’s okay,” Hansel said, trying to stay positive. “We’ll find the way.” But as they wandered through the dense woods, no familiar landmarks appeared. They walked all night and into the next day, their stomachs growling with hunger. All they found to eat were a few berries they came across on the forest floor.
Eventually, so tired and weak that they could barely walk, Hansel and Gretel lay down beneath a tree. Huddled together for warmth, they fell into a deep, exhausted sleep, still lost in the heart of the forest.
The Mysterious Cottage
For three long days, Hansel and Gretel wandered deeper and deeper into the forest. Their legs ached, and their bellies rumbled with hunger. If they didn’t find help soon, they feared they wouldn’t make it much longer. Just as they were beginning to lose hope, they heard the most beautiful song. High up in the trees sat a snow-white bird, singing so sweetly that Hansel and Gretel couldn’t help but stop and listen.
When the song ended, the bird spread its wings and flew off, and the children followed it. The bird led them to a clearing where they saw a small, unusual house. As they got closer, they gasped in amazement — the house was built of bread and covered in delicious-looking cakes, with windows made of shiny, clear sugar.
Hansel’s eyes widened with excitement. “We’ve found food! I’ll eat some of the roof, and you can try the window, Gretel. It looks sweet!”
Hansel reached up and broke off a piece of the roof, while Gretel leaned against the house and nibbled on the sugar windows. Just as they were enjoying their snack, a voice called out from inside:
“Nibble, nibble, gnaw, Who’s that nibbling at my little house?”
Startled, the children froze for a moment, but then Hansel whispered, “It’s just the wind,” and they continued eating. Hansel tore down a bigger chunk of the roof, and Gretel popped a whole piece of the sugary window into her mouth, savoring every bite.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and out stepped a very old woman, leaning on crutches. Hansel and Gretel were so frightened, they dropped the food they were holding. But the old woman smiled warmly at them and said, “Oh, you dear children, who brought you here? Come inside with me; no harm will come to you.”
She took their hands gently and led them into her cozy little house. Inside, she set a table with all kinds of delicious foods — milk, pancakes with sugar, apples, and nuts. After the children had eaten their fill, the old woman showed them two soft, comfy beds with clean white sheets. Hansel and Gretel lay down, feeling as though they had just stepped into a dream, believing they were safe at last.
The Witch’s Trap
The old woman who lived in the house was not as kind as she appeared. In truth, she was a wicked witch who lured children with the promise of sweet treats. Her house, made of candy and cakes, was just a trap to catch unsuspecting kids. Once she had them in her clutches, she would cook and eat them, which was her idea of a feast.
Witches have a special sense like animals, which lets them know when people are near. When Hansel and Gretel came into her domain, she was thrilled and said to herself with a wicked laugh, “I’ve got them now! They won’t escape me.”
Before the children woke up the next morning, the witch was already at work. She peered at Hansel and Gretel, who were sleeping soundly with their rosy cheeks, and thought, “What a tasty treat they’ll make!” She grabbed Hansel with her gnarled hand and locked him in a small shed with a barred door. Hansel’s cries were of no use; the witch was set on her plan.
Next, she shook Gretel awake and snapped, “Get up, sleepyhead! Fetch some water and cook something special for your brother. He’s in the shed and needs to be fattened up. When he’s plump, I’m going to eat him.”
Gretel was heartbroken and cried, but there was nothing she could do. She had to obey the witch’s cruel commands.
Each day, the witch cooked the best food for Hansel while Gretel had to make do with only crab shells. Every morning, the witch visited the shed and said, “Hansel, stretch out your finger so I can see if you’re getting fat.” Hansel would stretch out a small bone he had saved, and since the witch’s eyesight was poor, she couldn’t tell it wasn’t his finger. She grew frustrated, unable to understand why Hansel wasn’t gaining weight.
After four long weeks, the witch’s patience wore thin. She called to Gretel, “Hurry up and fetch some water. Whether Hansel is fat or thin, I’m going to cook him tomorrow.”
Poor Gretel was overwhelmed with sadness as she fetched the water, tears streaming down her face. “Dear God, help us,” she prayed. “If only we had been eaten by wild animals, at least we’d have died together.”
The witch simply sneered, “Your tears won’t help you now.”
Gretel’s Brave Escape
Early the next morning, Gretel was up before the sun, hanging the cauldron over the fire and getting things ready. The witch said, “We’re going to bake some bread first. I’ve already heated the oven and prepared the dough.” She pushed Gretel toward the oven, where flames were flickering inside. “Creep in and check if it’s hot enough so we can bake the bread,” the witch instructed. But the real plan was to trap Gretel inside and cook her too.
Gretel noticed the witch’s plan and said, “I’m not sure how to get in. Could you show me?”
The witch, thinking her plan was foolproof, said, “Silly girl, the door is big enough. Look, I can fit in myself!” She bent over and started to crawl into the oven.
Seizing the moment, Gretel gave the witch a big push, sending her deep into the oven. Quickly, Gretel slammed the heavy door shut and bolted it. The witch’s screams were terrifying, but Gretel didn’t look back. She ran as fast as she could away from the oven, knowing the wicked witch was finally gone.
With the danger behind her, Gretel hurried to Hansel’s little shed. “Hansel, we’re free! The witch is gone!” she exclaimed. Hansel burst out of the shed with joy, and the two siblings hugged and danced around, thrilled to be reunited and safe.
Feeling braver than ever, they explored the witch’s house. To their amazement, they found chests filled with sparkling jewels and shiny pearls in every corner.
“These are so much better than pebbles!” Hansel said, stuffing as many jewels as he could into his pockets. Gretel filled her pinafore with as many treasures as she could carry.
“Now let’s leave this forest and find our way home,” Hansel said, eager to escape the witch’s dark woods.
Home at Last
After walking for two hours, Hansel and Gretel came across a large pond. “We can’t get across,” Hansel said, looking around. “There’s no plank or bridge.”
“And no boat,” Gretel added. “But look! There’s a white duck swimming. Maybe it can help us.”
Gretel called out to the duck, singing,
“Little duck, little duck, come and see,
Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee.
No plank or bridge is in sight,
Carry us across on your back so white.”
The duck swam over to them. Hansel climbed onto its back and asked Gretel to join him, but she said, “That might be too heavy for the duck. Let’s go one at a time.”
So, the duck first took Hansel across the pond, and then returned for Gretel. When they were safely on the other side, the forest started to look familiar. Soon, they saw their father’s house in the distance.
They ran home as fast as they could, bursting into the house and throwing themselves into their father’s arms. Their father was overjoyed to see them, having worried deeply since they’d been lost. Sadly, their mother had passed away, but they were relieved to be together again and no longer had to worry.
Gretel emptied her pinafore, spilling pearls and precious stones all over the room, and Hansel followed suit, scattering his own treasures. With their newfound wealth, they lived happily ever after, free from any more troubles.